Nestled in the C-Wing of the Science Center, Martha Baskett, one of
two new chemistry professors, looks for future uses of cotton.

Photo by Eric Bell

New Professor -
Martha Baskett smiles as she works
in the Science Center. The School of Math & Sciences hired Baskett
as a new chemistry professor.

Baskett, the wife of a Lake Village cotton
farmer, says she spins, weaves and dyes in her spare time and smiles as
she relates her hobby back to her passion for chemistry.

Born in New York City, Baskett’s life and
education have taken her around the country. Baskett studied first as an
undergraduate working on a geography B.S. in Chicago, then to UAM for a
B.S. in chemistry and finally to post-grad work in Amherst, Mass.

Baskett’s love for chemistry began in
junior
high school, and though she got “side-tracked” in college, time brought
chemistry back to the fore.

In the past Baskett worked on many projects
and with famous professors from her disciplines. She worked with
Professor Fujita, co-creator of the Fujita-Pearson Scale used to
classify tornado power based on wind force.

The focus of her research has been the design
and synthesis of molecular magnetic materials to coordinate paramagnetic
ions with organic open-shell molecules. The reason was to create
“hybrid” materials with mixtures of spin sites.

Since the properties of molecular assemblies
(such as crystals) are directly affected by structure, it is of value to
attempt to predict and synthetically control that structure through
rational design methods.

“These magnetic materials might be used for
understanding and utilization of electronic properties,” Baskett said.

At UAM, Baskett proposes to do research work with
cellulosic cotton.

“Smart fabrics that exhibit a response to an
external stimulus have multiple applications as detectors for chemical
and biological agents,” Baskett said. “Cotton is an excellent candidate
for the support fabric because hydroxyl groups on the cellulose polymer
backbone provide sites for surface functionalization.”

Baskett says her research could functionalize
cellulosic cotton with detectors that might provide early warning
response devices for protection from hazardous agents.